Cloth-cutting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J

1N0 Model.) I v F. HLCALDWELL- CLOTH GUT'JQING MACHINE.

No. 549,476. Patented Nov. 5,1895.

2 Shehs Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. H. CALDWELL. GLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. I No. 549,476. Patefited Nov. 5,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. CALDWELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CLOTH-CUTTING. MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,476, dated November 5, 1895.

Application filed AprillZ, 1894. $erial No. 507,203. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.- Y

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and use-' ful Improvements in Cloth-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cutting devices for use in cutting cloth, &c. to pattern and otherwise, in the manufacture of articles from textile and other fabrics.

To this end it consists in the construction hereinafter set forth, embodying a powerdriven shear pivoted to and operated in connection with a fixed shear mounted upon a movable base-plate with driving connections normally out of connection and adapted to be brought into engagement by pressure of the hand employed in moving and guiding the instrument.

By means of a suitable handle the entire apparatus can be moved at will in any direction, and by means of a lever in convenient position relatively to the handle the driving mechanism is thrown out of or into action at any instant. The driving power is constant and delivered by a flexible shaft or otherwise from an elevated source in proper relations with the cutting-table.

Details of construction and of the operative principles will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Mechanism embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device complete. Fig. 2 is an end elevation complete. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a slightlymodified structure embodying the same essential features, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a plate constituting the base and support of the apparatus, and B a standard of a somewhat U shape attached by one of its arms to the base. The forward end of the upper arm of the standard B is enlarged laterally into a head I), through which from side to side is journaled a counter-shaft c, carrying at one side of the head I) a clutch-disk d, secured rigidly to the shaft, and at the other side of the head I) an eccentric disk 6. Beyond and adjacent to the eccentric e the shaft is the bevel-gear 7t is'provided with concentric ing the collar f of the shaft 0.

peripherally Y grooved or provided with a grooved or ribbed collar f, and at any convenient point the'shaft is further provided with a weighted crank-arm g, whose oflice is to overbalance the eccentric and maintain the same and the shaft in a given radial position when out of use, as hereinafter explained.

Between the disk d and the supportinghead b is placed a bevel-gear h, rigidly centered on a sleeve 11, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) projected into thelateral aperture of the head 1) around the shaft 0, but having no rotative connection therewith. The sleeve is held against lateral displacement by a setscrew 3, threaded through the head 19, into a peripheral groove of the sleeve, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The rear face of 7o projections adapted to enter and engage corresponding concentric recesses in the adjacent face of the disk (I, sufficient longitudinal play of the shaft 0 being allowed to shift the disk dinto or out of engagement with the projections of the gear 72, as desired. This latter movement is accomplished by means of a lever j, pivoted to the side of the standard B, and having a bifurcated head engag- A leaf-spring 8 attached to the standard B, bears outwardly against the lever and holds the same outwardly from the handle H, and thereby retains the disk d normally in disengaged position, except when the lever is temporarily 5 drawn inward by the grasp of the operators hand.

The handle H, attached to the standard B, projects rearwardly in such relation to the leverj that as the hand of the operator grasps the handle the thumb rests upon the lever j, in position for convenient manipulation.

Upon the base A, adjacent to or forming part of the standard B, is secured the fixed shear S, and pivoted at the side of the fixed shear at p, in cutting relations therewith, is the movable shear S. The latter is provided at a point beneath the eccentric e withablock or friction-roll 7a, normally in contact with the periphery of the eccentric. This normal contact is maintained by a spring S interposed between a rear projection of the pivoted shear S and the standard B. I prefer to use for this purpose a coiled spring S opcrating upon a curved stem S'Zcarried through the rear projection of the shear S.

In constant mesh with the bevel-gear 7L is a bevel-pinion 7t, secured to a vertical shaft 0, stepped in the top of the standard B and journaled through a yoke-piece on, also attached to the standard B.

Power is communicated to the shaft 0 in any convenient manner. I prefer a flexible shaft driven from an elevated countershaft, (not shown herein,) enabling the cutter to be moved in any direction with convenience.

The operation of the device is as follows: Constant rotative power being given the bevel-gear h through the bevel-pinion h the disk (Z is engaged therewith by engagement upon the projections whenever the disk is shifted into engaging position by the lever j, manipulated by the hand of the operator while moving the cutter upon the table. Upon releasing the leverj it is thrown outward by the spring 5, and the disk (Z is thus automatically released. The movable shear S being operated by the rotation of the eccentric c coincidentally with the disk (1 in its forward or cutting movement is moved in the opposite direction by the spring 8 Upon disengagement of the disk (I the shaft 0 is thrown into such radial position that the eccentric c is brought to its highest point by the weighted crank g, and if the cessation of motion should leave the parts on the deadcenter a slight displacement by hand will enable the counterweight to properly act. The action of the spring .5 follows up that of the eccentric, and thus whenever the cutting action of the shears ceases the shears at once open and remain open until. again set in action.

The modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4: are mechanical only and have reference to the employment of a higher speed in the shaft esuch, for example, as may be produced by an electric motor. In this case the forward end of the standard B is extended and bifurcated to afford journal-bearings for the shaft 0 at the sides of the shaft c, as shown, so that a screw-gear may be substituted for the bevel-gears first shown.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a cloth cutting machine, of the character indicated, the combination of the supportin g base: the fixed and movable shears: the counter-shaft and vibrating connections with the movable shear: the normally rotatin g driving gear: the laterally adjustable connecting device to engage or disengage the driving gear and shaft in rotative relations: a lever normally engaging said connecting device and extended into convenient actuating relations with the hand of the operator: and a spring normally in action against the lever to hold the connecting device disengaged except when actuated by the operator, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cloth-cutting machine, of the character indicated, the combination of the supporting base: the fixed and movable shears: the counter-shaft and its operating connections with the movable shear: the normally rotating driving gear: the movable connecting device: a fixed handle upon the supporting base adapted to be grasped by the operator for moving the device; the lever governing the connecting device extended in approximately parallel relations with the handle for convenient manipulation: and the spring holding the lever apart from the handlethe operative arrangement enabling the operator to control the driving connections of the movable shear by the hand occupied in moving the machine, in following the lines of cut, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cloth-cutting device of the character indicated, in combination with the fixed shear, the movable shear pivoted to and cooperating therewith, the spring normally acting to hold the shears apart, the eccentric in driving contact with the pivoted shear, and the radial counter-weight upon the eccentric shaft and in rotative connection thereby with the eccentric, for normally holding the eccentric in position, permitting the shear to stand open when at rest, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK II. CALDXVELL.

\Vitnesses:

LANDoN FREYBLER, L. M. IIOSEA. 

